Today was my last day on the job.

I've never had to leave a positive situation. Usually there's broken hearts and/or pink slips involved. There's a period of anguish, followed by pain, then anguish again followed by pain. As time passes we come to grips (hopefully) with the situation, and we start to dig. We start to look for some meaning or lesson. And it's not hard to find. Turns out we made the situation much more complicated than it had to be. If we're smart we'll find a way to remember it. Maybe play taxidermist, take it and put it on a shelf so we'll never forget. All that said, none of it really applies in this situation.

I feel no pain nor anguish. No need to dig, because the lessons have already been tattooed on my senses. I'll wear it around my neck like a crucifix. So in moments of silence it's there for me to grab, bow my head and give thanks.

Labels: change, life

Labels: Obama, politics, race

Obama won the Iowa caucus by over securing over 30% of the vote-in a state where black people make up 3% of voters. I have to say I am both surprised and impressed.

I was thinking about this last night in all American terms of race. I believe the right (all its politicians and pundits on TV and radio) and a lot of Republicans are simply racist. They are more likely to appeal to the publics most negative thoughts and validate those than they are to challenge people or uplift. They divide and conquer the citizenry with rhetoric and half truths, leading us to believe that we must separate because of our differences instead of congregating and exploring them.

Over the next few months I’m sure the Right will try to secure power by any means necessary, “pushing the envelope,” and trying to get all their constituents to see Obama as nothing more than a nigger. It may come in the form of a comment about fried chicken and collard greens in the white house. They may find some way to connect content in hip-hop with this man: “He’s black and can’t even get his own people to clean up their act.” However they do it, I expected it to be cowardly, hypocritical, racist and dead wrong.

That said, what dawned on me last night is maybe the majority of United States citizens are not racist. It can be said that those who benefit from a racist system are inherently racist. Maybe not everyone can comprehend that or even wants to, but deep down people believe that everyone deserves a fair shot. At a time when the only thing separating the middle-class from the poor is the difference in the spelling of the two, maybe people are beginning to see our similarities and are ready to build on those. Maybe they have for a long time, but it’s “our” leaders that keep holding us back. So in the coming months I hope we can all keep challenge ourselves to rethink our “cowardly, hypocritical, racist and dead wrong,” and not let ourselves be manipulated into thinking they’re right. They maybe normal or inherently human, but that doesn’t mean we can’t challenge ourselves to do and be better.

UPDATE:
had an interesting exchange with someone regarding this post on another website. Both a lesson in the power of language and the importance of not rushing these blogs. here it is:

Obama won the Iowa caucus by
Submitted by lancekates on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 3:19pm.
Obama won the Iowa caucus by over securing over 30% of the vote-in a state where black people make up 3% of voters. I have to say I am both surprised and impressed.

I'm kind of offended by the suggestion that white people are automatically racist, so much so that you're supprised and impressed that us ignorant racist white folk can manage to vote for a black person.

I'm tired of the racist assumption that because I'm white I must be racist.

I have flagged this post for that reason.

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let me be more clear
Submitted by jaw of life on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 4:34pm.
i should have been more clear in making a distinction between systemic racism and personality traits such as bigotry and prejudice.

When I speak of politicians reaching out to our most negative qualities, I'm talking about bigotry and prejudice. Today those in power manipulate us by making us believe we are more different than similar.

As far as racism goes... again in terms of systemic racism, white people are racist because they benefit from a racist system. I'm not saying all white people are prejudice or bigoted (everyone can be, and I believe everyone is to a certain extent), but the fact is they benefit from a system that has/and continues to oppress people based on their race. I believe for the most part, few white people can comprehend this, nor do they want to... they're more inclined to say "can't we move on... I'm looking to the future." Which isn't a bad thing- and something that happened last night in my opinion- however, like i said in general i believe most US citizens believe we should all start from an even playing field... to not aknowledge that is ignoring part of the problem... We leave ourselves vulnerable to falling into the same snares down the line.

Last night was a good sign, but I don't believe "THAT'S IT!" to be ironic and corny and in line with the website-- it was a progressive move that hints at progress made and progress to come.

I hope that's more clear.

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white people are racist
Submitted by lancekates on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 9:25pm.
white people are racist because they benefit from a racist system.

So... because of their race you're confident that they are racist.....

You're determining a character trait (racist) based on one's skin color.

I want to be clear on this... you're saying that if a person is white that they are racist.

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1 more try
Submitted by jaw of life on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 3:12am.
i thought i was pretty clear in my last post.

In my original post i failed to clearly distinguish the difference between systemic racism and personality traits such as bigotry and prejudice- my bad.

I'll say it again, politicians exploit personality traits such as bigotry and prejudice for there own personal gain. These exploits have a polarizing effect and not only discount the similarities and common beliefs often held amongst the citenzry, but they discount real issues that the majority of the public deals with and cares about such as, healthcare, national debt, education etc.

**************************
The discussion of systemic racism is a whole separate topic (thus the line break above). Let's get that strait: I'm not referring to racism as a personality trait. I'm refering to systemic racism in law, finance and education where one "race" benefits at the expense of others. I failed to clearly state that in my original post.

Dictionary.com definition #2 defines racism as "a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination."

Do you, as a white person, admit that you benefit from our racist system?

Because white people benefit from our racist system, they are inherently racist. Remember I am not referring to "racist" as a personality trait, but as a trait of systems within our society.

Maybe you've heard of It in terms of white privilege... have you?

Think of it in terms of sexism. Although I'm male and benefit from a sexist society (male privilege), that doesn't mean I'm misogynistic.

Again, the more i respond the more i realize my failure in clearly distinguishing between systemic racism and personality traits. The discussion of white people being inherently racist is a totally separate conversation, that I'm willing to take up. But as it stands I'm getting the feeling that you've taken my comments as an attack on white people's character. When I say I'm both surprised and impressed by what happened in Iowa, it's because for the moment it seems people are actually voting for what they believe in. We're just getting started, one ad or comment can change a lot, and i hope people have the diligence (if that's the right word) to stay committed to what they believe rather than rhetoric.

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Slipery logic
Submitted by chillbill on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 3:41am.
"Because white people benefit from our racist system, they are inherently racist."

That does not follow.
The system is racist when the racism is systemic. Only the people PERPETUATING that system (sometimes unintentionally) are racist, not those innocently benefiting from it. For example afirmative action is a racist policy that benefits minorities. Are those who benefit from it racist? I would say not.
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"Think of it in terms of sexism. Although I'm male and benefit from a sexist society (male privilege), that doesn't mean I'm misogynistic."

You point out the same thing here, but since you can identify with yourself you KNOW that you are not guilty. Just pretend that you are innocent of racism, but white; as you are male but innocent of sexism.

You actually said white people are all racist, and the whole post implies that you are suprised that some fairly large portion of the white people in Iowa did not vote in a way that reflected your incorrect assumption. When something suprises you it is logical to just admit and embrace how you were wrong. It is illogical to rationalize it into you being right.

Love the Truth
http://www.progressiveu.org/154720-love-the-truth

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the irony
Submitted by jaw of life on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 2:08pm.
Afirmative action is a policy that was put in place in response to what?--- SYSTEMIC RACISM. That is what is never said. All that is said is "we need more people of color so we're going to hire them no matter their capabilities." And you're correct, that is racist. But that's not why the policy was put into effect.

How can those who benefit from Afirmative action be racist when they're the victims of our racist system? Is a prey no longer considered prey when he escapes his predator?

Its shocking to see how easy it is for a white person to look at afirmative action and view it as a racist policy. For the record, I don't believe in it for the simple fact that it doesn't get to the root of the problem... you place a few people of color in positions and yet I still have to sit here and explain why it would surprise me that a state with a majority white population voted for a black man (on a "progressive" website at that).

"Just pretend that you are innocent of racism, but white; as you are male but innocent of sexism."
I live in a system that puts my sex above another. I benefit in ways that are obvious and ways that I'll probably never understand. I get what you're saying by telling me to "pretend I'm male but innocent of sexism." But what does being "innocent" have to do with anything? You use the word as a way to make yourself feel better and validate the feelings you associate with "not being a racist." But what does that do for anyone besides yourself in the real world?

As a male in a sexist system I can go on about my day being totally ignorant of the other sex's oppression and it will not be held against me. Am I "guilty" of anything? No, but I benefit. That said, what sense would it make for me to point the finger at the opposite and oppressed sex and call her sexist... its laughable.

Like I said in my original post: "Maybe not everyone can comprehend that or even wants to, but deep down people believe that everyone deserves a fair shot." I'm not trying to get anyone of you to just come out and say "i'm a racist." But I'm not going to have you attack my response to what happened in Iowa as unreasonable. Do I think what happened in Iowa was a sign that 30% of the white democrats aren't bigoted or prejudiced? No, I'm sure they all are and so is every other nationality in the state. What I saw was people not vote from a place of fear and desperation- two feelings that only make the soul fertile for bigotry and prejudice- which seems to have been the tone of politics the last few years... "vote for this person or else...."

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Obama 38%, Edwards 30%, Clinton 29%,
Submitted by chillbill on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 11:16pm.
How many of the 62% would have voted Obama, if they had thought he could win?
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"But what does being "innocent" have to do with anything? You use the word as a way to make yourself feel better and validate the feelings you associate with "not being a racist." But what does that do for anyone besides yourself in the real world?"

First, what I am suggesting is just putting yourself in the other persons place. The benefit of recognising that they may not be guilty is forgiveness. Which is a big concept when you want to progress beyond the repeating patterns of the past. Knowing history does not prevent repeating it, forgiving your enemies for what you remember does.

Afirmative action is less than ideal, but it has already worked to move toward its goal, and I would consider it one of the more effective 'great society' programs. As we get closer to the goal the day will (hopefully) come when it is no longer needed.

A victim of anything that hates because of it is a MUCH worse part of the problem than a person that does not hate, but is a member of the oppressive side by accident of birth. Saying that people are [Insert Label here] because of sex or race is not reverse racism, it IS racism. You do not seem to intend it that way, but the source and destination of that train of thought seems clear to me.

The Obama victory is not the end of any of these problems. I agree with you that it is suprising and positive beyond my expectations. I think your accusation of only one of the political parties is a result of buying some of what the other one is shoveling. I'll be suprised if the usual dirty tricks of campaign politics aren't even worse than usual, but I'm definitely watching with interest.




And after all that, I was directed to this recent comment: http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YmFkYTQyZTg5NmE3MWM4MjUxNzllZDBlMGRiNmJhZTk=

Labels: Obama, politics, race, Republicans, The Right